The Pulpit Commentary — Ecclesiastes — Section 66

CHA RA0TER. He endows man with a constitution properly supernatural, with capacities and faculties higher than those which are amenable to physical law. Interesting as is the necessary development of the universe under the control of natural forces, far more interesting is the unfolding of the moral character of men. This, indeed, is for us the most significant and momentous of all things that exist. Man is made not merely to enjoy or to suffer, but to form character, to acquire habits of virtue and piety; to become assimilated, in moral disposition and purpose, to the Divine Author of his being. To this end all circumstances may conduce; for experience shows us that there is no condition of human life, no range of human experience, which may not minister to spiritual improvement and welfare. III. Gon rs THE RIGHTFUL RULER AND JUDGE oF MEN, All human relationships fail a<l.equately to set forth the character and offices of the Eternal; yet many such relationships serve to afford us some glimpse into the excellences of him who is judicially and morally the Supreme. There is no incompatibility between the repre- sentation that God is a Father, and that which attributes to him the functions of a Judge. The human relationships are based upon the Divine,and it is unjust to regard the human as simply figures of the Divine. Having all power, God is able to apportion the lot of the creature; being infinitely righteous, such apportionment on his part must be beyond all criticism and censure. The life of man should be lived under a constant sense of the Divine obsehration and j udgment; for thus the probationer of earth will secure the advantage of the loftiest standard of righteousness, and the motive to rectitude and to progress which the Divine government is fitted to supply. Distributive justice-to use the expression familiar in moral philosophy-is the funcl.ion :>f the Supreme. IV. Goo HIMSELF DETERMINES THE MEASURE IN wmcH RETRIBUTION SHALL BE CARRIED OU'!' IN THIS EARTHLY LIFE. The passage now under consideration lays stress upon the earthly reward and penalty, though it does not represent these as exhaustive and complete. "God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy." This is something very different from what is termed "poetical justice; " these are gifts which are consistent with adversity and affliction. In fact, the lesson seems to be conveyed that moral goodness meets with moral recompense, as distinct from the doctrine of children's story-books, which teach that "virtue will be rewarded with a coach-and-six" I And the sinner is warned that be will receive the reward of bis sin in travail, disappointment, and dissatisfaction. "Whatsoever a man sowetL, that shall be also reap." A man must be blind who does not see in the constitution of human nature and human society the traces of a righteous Lawgiver and Adminis- trator; and at the same time, the man must be short-sighted who does not detect indications of incompleteness in these judicial arrangements. V. GoD GIVES us IN THE PARTIAL RETRIBUTION OF THE PRESENT A SUGGESTION OF A LIFE TO COME, IN WHICH ms GOVERNMENT SHALL BE 0OMPLETED AND VTh'DI0ATED. That the convictions and expectations of the ancient Hebrews with regard to a future existence were as developed and decisive as those of Christians, none would contend. But this and other books afford indications that the enlightened Jews had an anticipation of judgment to come. If this world were all, vanity and vexation of spirit would have been the orily impression produced by the experience and contempla- tion of human life. But it was seen, even if dimly, that this earthly state requires, in order to its completeness, an immortality which is the scene__of Divine judgment and of human retribution.-T. Vers. 1-11.-The trial of p7,easure. We have to consider- L THE CONSTANT QUESTION OF THE HUMAN HEART. In what shall we find the good which will make our life precious to us? What is there that will meet the cravings of the human heart, and cover our whole life witli the sunshine of success and of contentment? II. A VERY NA.TUB.AL RESORT. We have recourse to some kind of excitement. It may be that which acts upon the senses (vers. 3, 8). Or it may be that which gratifies the mind; the sense of possession and of power (vers. 7-9). Or it may be found in agreeable and inviting activities (vers. 4-6). IIL lTs TEMPORARY suooEss. "My heart rr.joiced" (ver. 10). It would be simply OH, ll, 1-26,] ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE PREACHER. 49